Harlem Eubank believes that victory over David Papot will 'line up' a fight against new IBF world champion Liam Paro.
The Brighton welterweight take on Frenchman Papot at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, with the IBF international title at stake, and the winner could he within touching distance of a shot at IBF title holder Paro.
Papot's only loss came against Paro last September and Eubank knows he might have to upset the odds this weekend.
"I'm the betting underdog in this fight," Eubank told Your Site. "He is an experienced operator.
"It's a fight that excites me and I can't wait to get in there."
Eubank's sole defeat was unfortunate, coming by technical decision against Jack Catterall last July after seven completed rounds following a clash of heads, but he needs to capitalise on another career-defining fight.
"I see this as a bit of an eliminator," said Eubank. "He is ranked above me with the IBF, and we are both highly ranked.
"Defeating Papot will give me a top-five position and put me in line to fight the champion, which is a fight that can easily be made. But I'm fully focused on Papot.
"Like I said, I'm the betting underdog here."
Eubank has been absent from the ring since last November, a shutout points win over Josh Wagner, who had previously been stopped by Papot in 2024.
"I've been looking more at his fight with Paro than his one with Wagner," said Eubank.
"That was the best version of him.
"We actually thought he won that fight, and my team decided this was exactly the fight I needed to push on and really earn a world title opportunity. We believe it is a world-title-level fight."
Paro took the IBF title from Belfast boxer Lewis Crocker with a points win last month, but Eubank believes he can dethrone the champion, provided he gets past Paro this weekend.
"Crocker just started too late and he'll be kicking himself for that," said Eubank.
"In the later rounds, he was giving Paro lots of problems.
"Paro is one of those fighters who knows how to do just enough to win. He started fast and just about pulled it off."
